Episode Summary

The NCIS team must protect Ziva when a suspect dies while being in custody, and her tactic might be the reason why the person died. The things become much more dangerous when the suspect's brother kidnaps Jenny, and demands the release of his brother in exchange for Jenny, but he has no idea that his brother is dead.moreless

Funny, witty scenes, plus exciting crime story. A bull's eye!

This is a wonderful episode, one of my favorites. I won't bother going into the good exciting story of the Director being kidnapped and threatened with death if Gibbs won't return the brother of the kidnapper, who happens to be dead, but the kidnapper does not know that. Rather I want to concentrate on the sharp writing and humor in the first part of the episode. I relish all these swell scenes and witty lines -- all in the first 10 minutes: Ducky saying it's his shortest commute to a crime scene, Palmer saying it is one of the few times he didn't get lost driving to the crime scene, Gibbs ordering the agents not to talk to poor dejected Ziva, Tony riding McGee for wearing his NCIS investigative outfit inside NCIS headquarters, Abby thinking wearing McGee's cap will make her a better agent but Tony saying it did nothing for McGee, Abby being ridiculed for her attire and saying she is no longer a "crime scene virgin," Ziva carrying on over the slow autopsy, etc..moreless

Too many contrivances

I realize I'm coming in late on this one. I adore Connor Trinneer, and very happy when he was cast for NCIS. Yet I have issues with this episode. I realize that Ziva has self-control issues, but did she really have to punch Brian in the jugular to get him into the elevator? He was cuffed, so all she really needed to do was grab a fistful of his hair and he would have followed her anywhere. And to to elaborate on my title: -- James gives Gibbs TWO HOURS?! to release Brian and the drugs? I would have given him 5 minutes right after I spoke to Brian to make sure he wasn't hurt and assure him he had a contingency in place to ensure Brian wouldn't be followed. -- James tells Gibbs he can send an agent with Brian (very convenient -- since they have to jury-rig a setup to "drive" the car to the hangar with a Dead Brian at the wheel.) -- When Jenny finally gets a chance to talk to Gibbs, she tells him she's fine and wishes she had her coat. She hasn't once remarked about the hanger the being chilly and yet James -- who is purportedly the brains in this operation -- doesn't pick up on the possibility that she was sending Jethro a message. -- Ziva's actions are investigated by her friends at NCIS (after all there's no need to involve a disinterested party such as the FBI). -- And the most appalling contrivance -- Jenny arbitrarily declares that Brian died of natural causes and Ducky jumps right on board. moreless

Ziva and Jen kick butt!

Ok, so I never thought I'd say this but Ziva totally rocked!!! She's been annoying me for the past few weeks but she completely made up for it in this episode. This storyline would have only worked for Ziva. You actually believe for a split second that she could have killed him.

Jen was exceptional. She's always great but in 'Jeopardy' she showed exactly why Gibbs still calls her a good agent.The only reason I didn't give this episode ten out of ten was because there wasn't as much Tony and Abby as I would have liked. However there was quite a bit of McGee. I especially liked the bit where he tried to make Ziva feel better. Brilliant episode!moreless

Very interesting episode.

The so-called South African accent was pretty good except for the constant use of the word 'mate' – that is NOT a word used here at all!

For a drug dealer, James is not at all hardcore, he didn't shoot the driver and his only concern is his brother, unwilling even to hurt Jenny. It's almost sad – both brothers, obviously close, die on the same day. Maybe a mercy.Lovely to see Cassie again, I've always liked her and the actress too.Connor Trinneer and Tim Russ – what's with the Star Trek alumni? I do so adore Connor, it's lovely to see him again."I'm being treated like a leopard!" I do so love Ziva's mis-use of the English language!moreless

NCIS Tech Cynthia Sumner

Recurring Role

Watch Online

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

FILTER BY TYPE

TRIVIA (7)

GOOF: When Cassie was making phone calls, she found out that there was only one flight that was scheduled to depart from the airport. However, when the team pulls into the hanger, you can clearly see another plane taking off.

TRIVIA: Tony mentions to Ziva he is afraid she will use the 'Vulcan death grip' on him. In this same episode, Tim Russ has a guest role, he is known for playing the Vulcan officer Tuvok in Star Trek: Voyager. Tony calls it wrong though, it is a neck pinch, rendering someone unconscious, not dead. In the Star Trek episode "The Enterprise Incident," Kirk engages in espionage against the Romulans. Spock pretends to be a traitor and when Kirk attacks him Spock uses "a defensive technique that leaves Kirk "dead." The Romulan commander asks what he did and Spock tells her that he instinctively used "the Vulcan Death Grip." Later in the episode we learn that is no such thing.

TRIVIA: In the previous episode "Bloodbath," when Abby is sitting in the elevator she tells Gibbs the statistics on deaths on elevators. In this episode the suspect Ziva is escorting becomes one of the five people to die in an elevator that Abby spoke of.

Ducky: (The crime scene being in the elevator inside the NCIS building) I have been traveling to crime scenes for a great many years but I can say with complete confidence: this is the shortest commute I have ever had...Jimmy: And one of the first times I didn't get us lost...

NOTES (1)

Original International Airdates:Denmark: May 9, 2006 on TV3Sweden: November 12, 2006 on TV3Germany: December 10, 2006 on SAT 1Italy: January 7, 2007 on RAI 2Finland: February 23, 2008 on NelonenCzech Republic: February 11, 2009 on TV NovaSlovakia: May 21, 2009 on Markiza

ALLUSIONS (4)

This episode has a number of connections to popular Star Trek series - two of the guest stars (Connor Trinneer, who played chief engineer Charles "Trip" Tucker III on Star Trek: Enterprise, and Tim Russ, who was Lt. Commander Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager, and a remark by Tony to Ziva in which he quips that she might apply the Vulcan death grip to him.

Also, the director of this episode (James Whitmore Jr.) directed two Star Trek: Enterprise episodes. There is also a reference to one of Gibbs's Rules. While this is ongoing in the series, it is similar to the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition.

Also, Ducky had Palmer get him a cup of Earl Grey tea. Earl Grey is Capt. Picard's (Star Trek: The Next Generation) beverage of choice. Another connection is connected to the name of the NCIS Special Agent Cassie Yates: on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine there was a frequently recurring character named Kasidy Yates.

When James Dempsey orders Ziva to approach her while holding Director Jenny Shepard hostage, Ziva is shown to have her weapon taped to her back. In the 1988 blockbuster Die Hard, John McClane also has his gun taped to his back as he approaches Hans Gruber who is holding his wife hostage.

While taping the dead Brian Dempsey's hands to the steering wheel, Tony says "It's show time Bernie." This is a reference to the 1989 movie Weekend at Bernie's where two guys pretend their dead boss is still alive.

Important:
You must only upload images which you have created yourself or that you are expressly authorised or licensed to upload. By clicking "Publish", you are confirming that the image fully complies with TV.com’s Terms of Use and that you own all rights to the image or have authorization to upload it.

Please read the following before uploading

Do not upload anything which you do not own or are fully licensed to upload. The images should not contain any sexually explicit content, race hatred material or other offensive symbols or images. Remember: Abuse of the TV.com image system may result in you being banned from uploading images or from the entire site – so, play nice and respect the rules!